John Mashaka
By John Mashaka I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Zitto Kabwe for bringing forth a very healthy debate intended to keep our sacred and historic union (Tanganyika and Zanzibar). While I appreciate Mr. Zitto’s position, I must also categorically express my slight discord on some issues he has brought forth
Our union founders had one objective in mind; they envisioned a vibrant nation with its people living side by side, and by that I agree with his point of one government, and one head of state, which in this case can either be a president or an executive prime minister in the case of parliamentary system. Of course our union has its short comings. Since the formation of Tanzania, things have evolved, and therefore, there must be a revamping of the Union’s initial accord.The issue of one, two, three, or ten governments is not a solution. A Vice president with “Mikasi” as Zitto puts it, an executive, or a ceremonial prime minister will not solve this paradox. These approaches could possibly delay the implosion of the already delicate situation, because each side of the Union is decrying unfairness in the distribution of resources and leadership positions, and thus concluding it necessary to part ways. It is our hope that the constitutional review team will get to the bottom of the grievances if they are left to do their work transparently, and independently without political interference.
This could be the case, probably. However, one of the fundamental, malignant, underlying issues, fuelling separation seems to be under our radar screens; the religious intolerance which our leaders seem to avoid is a deadly pathogen in our union’s bloodstream. Burning of churches has nothing to do with either side’s grievances. This religious vice must be addressed urgently. The problem needs an antidote of tolerance and not mere public statements. This is what politicians and religious leaders need to face head on, not just the leadership structure and natural resources.
Tanzania has so many tribes. Thanks to Mwl. Nyerere and Karume for promoting Kiswahili which became the pillar of our unity that also fended off the vice of tribalism. In recent years rather, the so called UDINI has taken a very intimidating, scary, and polarizing role in our Union. Religious zealots, fanatics, short sighted, and self centered politicians, who will stop at nothing to score political points, have hijacked the debate with carefully coded words to win public sympathy and popularity at the expense of the Union. They have failed to weigh the ramification of their selfish agendas on millions of lives on both sides of Tanzania. Some have gone as far as inflaming the situation by describing the Union as a religious persecutionBefore jumping the wagon of keeping or abandoning the union, our leaders must face the inconvenient truth of tackling UDINI; a cancerous vice that is hastening the disintegration of the union. A pandemic of which if we don’t pay attention to, may soon leave us standing on a very wrong side of history. When UDINI roots shall have deeply entrenched themselves in the fabric of our society Sudan was one nation less than a year ago. Today, we have the Islamic North and Christian South. Politicians from both sides therefore, need to understand that, even if our union collapses today, the elements of UDINI in both sides will send our separate countries drifting to unknown destinations in the turbulent high seas. One, two or ten governments, equitable distribution of resources and so forth may not help to save the union nor our respective countries as long as religious fanaticism is not addressed. We must all therefore, join hands in taming the spread of UDINI while practical solutions are sought to strengthen our Unity.
We have enjoyed relative calm in a very explosive neighborhood. Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and even Rwanda have experienced and gone through some of the most imaginable difficulties. Our union disintegration may therefore come at a very high price; the situation could spiral out of hand with thousands of people losing their lives and properties in ensuing mayhem, both Tanganyika and Zanzibar enters into a diplomatic crisis, and their economies collapses. Mr. Kabwe, you will agree with me that we are a generation that has been given so much, and so much is expected of us. We are expected to be wiser beyond our years; we are expected to be the supermen of our times, practically providing ideas and solutions to some of our most pressing needs and problems. We must therefore be very careful not to be swayed by the populist discourse. Our leadership skills must be unquestionable; we must be highly disciplined, keen and patient when handling issues this delicate. Else, we are going to brand ourselves as power hungry, selfish, and self centered humans that will stop at nothing in order to get public attention and sympathy
Our public utterances may signal failure and perhaps be misinterpreted, igniting the unthinkable. Politicians from both sides of the union must exercise restraint on their public statements, as they continue with the dialogue without disguising their selfish agendas under the pretext of Union shortcomings, especially at this time when the constitutional review team is trying to address the long standing imbalances. We must earnestly discuss the underlying grievances to scatter the cloud of uncertainty above our heads.
We still have time to solve our problems, and should not talk of disintegration at this point. All we need is patience and tolerance, calculated statements and patriotism to get the work done. Leaders from both sides must sit down on dialogue table; discuss the puzzle until a compromise is reached. Each side must offer concessions, and if this proves to be practically impossible, the matter should be taken to the people peacefully in the form of referendum, and let them decide on the course of action to either save or abandon the union. This is the inconvenient truthMungu Ibariki Tanzania
Mashaka.john@yahoo.com
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